When you become a part of the private rented sector for the first time, there are a number of things you have to consider to ensure you are not cheated and that you’re in a secure and safe tenancy. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 things you as a first time renter should consider before renting an apartment.

Tenancy Contracts

Though they tend to be long, confusing and full of legal jargon, it is important to avoid the temptation of just skipping to the end and signing it without reading. A tenancy contract is a legally binding document that mandates your landlord to do certain things that you definitely should be aware of to avoid being taken by a rude surprise.

Upfront Costs

It’s easy for first-time renters to forget that aside monthly or yearly rent, there are also upfront costs of renting an apartment and you’ll almost always have to complete the payment of the costs before you can move into the apartment. You should prepare and plan ahead for these costs to avoid a rude shock in this area.

Long Term Costs

Aside monthly or yearly rent, there are other utility payments like electricity, water etc. that you have to consider. You need to be sure if certain utilities are covered by your rent and provided for or if you will have to either source for them or pay for them.

Take a Meter Reading Before Signing on the Dotted Line

Landlords are fond of passing on previous electricity bills to new and unsuspecting tenants. Ensure you are not a victim of this by taking a meter reading of the electricity meter when you come to inspect the house. You can also request to see evidence that electricity bills have been paid to date and there are no outstanding bills left for you to shoulder. Please ensure you do this to avoid being charged by PHCN for electricity previous tenants used.

Safety and Appearance of the Neighbourhood

Many first-time renters often get carried away with the excitement of renting their first apartment and forget to assess the safety of the neighbourhood their renting the apartment in. Please ensure you do not make this mistake. Landlords will hardly be truthful or sincere about the safety of the neighbourhood of their apartments, so you have to ask around and make necessary enquiries. You can talk to one or two people who live and work around the area to get information about what the area is really like.

Accessibility

Try to get an apartment that has an easy or relatively easy access to public transportation, provision stores, medical facilities or anything else you consider important to your living situation. This will help make life in the apartment easier for you.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

Topic: Don’t Give Up [Tuesday April 25, 2017]

Read: Galatians 6:1–10, Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 21–22; Luke 18:24–43

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Bob Foster, my mentor and friend for more than fifty years, never gave up on me. His unchanging friendship and encouragement, even during my darkest times, helped carry me through.

We often find ourselves determined to reach out and help someone we know who is in great need. But when we fail to see improvement right away, our resolve can weaken and we may eventually give up. We discover that what we hoped would be an immediate change has become an ongoing process.

The apostle Paul urges us to be patient in helping one another through the stumbles and struggles of life. When he writes, “Carry each other’s burdens” and so “fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), he is comparing our task to the work, time, and waiting it takes for a farmer to see a harvest.

How long should we keep praying and reaching out to those we love? “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”  (v. 9). How many times should we reach out? “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (v. 10).

The Lord encourages us today to trust Him, to remain faithful to others, to keep on praying, and to not give up!

Prayer: Father in heaven, we ask for hope and perseverance to continue reaching out to others.

In prayer we call on God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20

Insight:

We may be hesitant about allowing ourselves to start feeling the pain of those around us. So did Paul lead us into more than we can handle when he urged us to reach out to the needs of others? (Gal. 6:9). Let’s put his words in context. In the previous chapter he wrote extensively about the importance of living with a sense of liberty (5:1). He didn’t see love as a matter of duty and bondage; rather, life in the Spirit is a life of care and concern for others, enabled by the Spirit.

So are we having cold feet about the implications of being warmhearted? If so, maybe we need to accept those natural fears. But in the freedom of the Spirit we can learn to act out of our own heart rather than out of duty; we can act out of the grace God generously gives us to care for others (6:4–5).

This message was written By David C. McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Secrets of Divine Encounter [Tuesday April 25, 2017]

Scripture: And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. Exodus 4:2-3.

Thought For The Day: God cannot do great things in the life of a person who is full of his own abilities.

One of the secrets of impactful existence is Divine encounter. Divine encounter makes a person’s life to count. Without Divine encounter in a person’s life, it is difficult for him/her to become great in life. Divine encounter counters every work of the enemy in a person’s life.

Now, what are the keys to experiencing Divine encounter?

1. Willingness to surrender personal strength or ability.

God cannot do great things in the life of a person who is full of his/her own abilities. The angel of the LORD touched Jacob’s thigh (hamstring muscle) which is one of the most powerful muscles in the body and weakened him. When God saw his willingness to surrender his personal strength, God gave him an encounter.

2. Willingness to surrender personal steps and strategies.

Moses tried at first to deliver the children of Israel by using physical energy but he failed until he encountered God and God gave him a change of strategy.

Beloved, if you are going to encounter God, you must allow Heaven to give you strategies and steps. If you are ready for God to change your approaches and steps, then you are ready for Divine Encounter.

Remember this: God cannot do great things in the life of a person who is full of his/her own abilities.

Assignment(s):

1. Go through the study again.

2. Surrender your strength, skills, qualification, etc. and allow God to have His way in your life.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE POWER OF DIVINE ENCOUNTER

Prayer: LORD, I surrender my strength and abilities to You. I depend solely on Your strength and strategy, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Judges 4:1 to 5:31, Luke 22:35 to 53, Psalm 94:1 to 23, Proverbs 14:3 to 4.

Amazing Fact: An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

Today In History: 25/04/1867 – Tokyo was opened for foreign trade.

Quote: Your degree of yieldedness determines your degree of usefulness in the Hands of God. Culled from THOU ART MY BATTLE AXE by Dr Paul Enenche.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.

Topic: Joy in Sharing [Tuesday April 25, 2017]

We . . . offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name. — Hebrews 13:15 (TLB)

Jesus knew that one of the real tests of our yieldedness to God is our willingness to share with others. If we have no mercy toward others, that is one proof that we have never experienced God’s mercy. Emerson must have been reading the gauge of human mercy when he said, “What you are speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” Satan does not care how much you theorize about Christianity, or how much you profess to know Christ. What he opposes vigorously is the way you live Christ.

Some time ago a lady wrote and said, “I am 65 years old. My children are all married, my husband is dead, and I am one of the loneliest people in all the world.” It was suggested to her that she find a way of sharing her religious faith and her material goods with those around her. She wrote a few weeks later and said, “I am the happiest woman in town. I have found a new joy and happiness in sharing with others.” That’s exactly what Jesus promised!

Prayer for the day: There is no greater joy, Father, than sharing Your love. Help me to convey this in all my dealings with others.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Power Of Appreciation [Monday April 24, 2017]

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted… – John 6:11

Nothing depreciates in the face of appreciation.

Favour and additions answer to praise (Acts 2:47)

Appreciation always yield multiplication –John.6:11.

A grateful heart is the guarantee for a fruitful life.

Never you ask, “What is this?” if you don’t want it to remain as it is.

”What is this?” was the question the children of Israel asked that led to their not having change of menu.

Murmuring leads to stagnation and emptiness.

At the root of appreciation is contentment.

Contentment destroys murmuring.

Lifting God up is what lifts you up from lack and want. John.12:32.

Failure to appreciate God is a robber of destiny.

Truly, appreciation of God leads to appreciation of destiny.

Topic: The Written Word [Monday April 24, 2017]

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105

The Bible is written as a personal letter to you. God speaks to you, ministers to your needs, and directs you in the way you should go in His written Word. He tells you what you should do and how you should live.

It is a mistake to think we can hear clearly from God without spending time in the Word. Knowing the written Word protects you from deception. Listening for God’s voice without being dedicated to spending time in the Word on a regular basis opens you up to hearing voices that are not from God. There may be times when God speaks something to you that is outside a specific chapter and verse of the Bible, but it will always be in agreement with His Word.

Tonight, spend time reading a portion of God’s personal letter to you and allow Him to speak to your heart. God’s Word is one of the most precious gifts we have. Treasure it.

Topic: Another Jonah in The Church? [Monday 24, April 2017]

Memorise: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. – Mark 16:15

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-6 (KJV)

1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

Bible in One Year: Number 16-17, Jeremiah 19:10-20:6

MESSAGE:

We are often quick to judge Biblical characters when they do not measure up to God’s expectation in one area or the other. We should however not allow our judgemental opinions to becloud our minds from the salient lessons God is trying to pass across to us through the failings of these characters. To drive home this point, the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 10:11 says,

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Among such characters are father Abraham and Isaac, who both misrepresented their wife as their sister. We also have prophets like Elijah, who opted to die in the face of adversity, and Jonah, the prophet who chose to run away from God’s assignment. In the New Testament, we have apostles like Thomas, who said he would not believe in Christ’s resurrection unless he saw and touched the palms of His hands. The shortcomings of these characters exposes their humility to us, and it also serves as a challenge to us that if characters with such shortcomings can go on to do great things for God, so can we in spite of our inadequacies.

Let’s take a closer look at Prophet Jonah, and compare his attitude to that of believers in the Church today. In Jonah 1, we read of how the word of the Lord came to him, instructing him to go and warn the people of Nineveh against the impending doom hanging over their heads because of their wickedness. Instead of carrying out God’s assignment, Jonah chose to flee to Tarshish, because he wanted the people of Nineveh to receive God’s judgement. He knew if these people heard the warning and repented, God would not punish them as He had earlier planned. However, Jonah wanted them to receive God’s punishment because of all they had done to the children of Israel. In like manner, our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and preach the gospel of salvation to sinners. Following the principles set out in our Bible reading, if we do not obey the Lord’s commandment, God forbid that their blood be required of us. We must beware of Jonah’s mistake so that none of us becomes another Jonah in the Church. Jonah landed in the belly of a fish before he understood the foolishness of trying to run away from God. Are you being called into the ministry of soul-winning? Stop running from your responsibility! Let us take the assignment of soul-winning seriously, and we will not miss our reward. Proverbs 11:30 says,

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Prayer Point: Father, help me to win souls for You on a daily basis.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Our Ability and Intelligence [Monday, 24th April 2017]

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24

When we say the Christian life is an amazing life, we are not exaggerating. We’ve got the best life powered by God’s Spirit. As a result of the salvation Christ has given to us that believe, Christ to us is God’s Power and Wisdom. And these have been given to us. We not only have access to the salvation of God, we now have access to his power and wisdom. Glory to God! The treasures of wisdom and efficacious power of God abound abundantly in us.

Power (dunamis in Greek) means among other things, ability. The supernatural ability of God is resident in us. This ability is inherent. It is as a result of the life of God which we have. This ability is dynamic in its functionality (James 5:15 AMP). That is, it functions in all areas of our lives. Isn’t that amazing? Wherever we appropriate the ability of God in us, it functions seamlessly, as long it is done in faith. You have the dynamic ability of God, and you can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

You not only have the dynamic ability of God, you also have the super intelligence of God. Wisdom (Sophia in Greek) is translated, among other things, as super intelligence. Listen beloved, you are super intelligent. There is nothing in this world that is beyond your intellectual capacity. The measurement of your intelligence is measured by God’s intelligence because you have His intelligence. You have the unction – super intelligence – of the Holy One and you know all things (1 John 2:20). Christ has been made to you super intelligence. You have the intelligence to tackle any problem. You have the intelligence to create things that are mind blowing. You have the intelligence to be super creative. You have the super intelligence of God.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

I have, inherent in me, the dynamic ability and super Intelligence of God. I am capable of to doing all things. Nothing is beyond my capacity. I think trailblazing thoughts. I am super creative and smart. I comprehend all things because of the super intelligence of God. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.